Compare towns
Berwick vs Bowdoin vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Standish has the highest household income ($105k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berwick | Bowdoin | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
3,188Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Berwick and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
$91,239±$13kLowest 22% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
| Standish and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
| Berwick and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
— | $983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
| Berwick and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.